Kolakham
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kolakham
| native_name = KolKham
| native_name_lang = Bantawa
| other_name = Kolbong
| nickname = Rai Gaon
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|27|06|05|N|88|40|40|E|type:city_region:IN|display=inline, title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = West Bengal
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kalimpong
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder = Ujir Man Rai Samsuhang
| named_for = traditional technique of oil production
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = Telephone/STD code
| area_code =
| registration_plate = WB
| blank1_name_sec1 = Lok Sabha constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = Darjeeling
| blank2_name_sec1 = Vidhan Sabha constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = Kalimpong
| website = {{URL|kalimpongdistrict.in/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Kolakham is a village in the Kalimpong II CD block in the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision of Kalimpong district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Geography
{{OSM Location map
| width=450| height=280| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|27|1|0|N|88|40|0|E}}| float=left|caption=Places in the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision in Kalimpong district
CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, M: municipality, F: facility, NP: national park
Abbreviations used in names – TG for tea garden (town/village)
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly.
|mark-coord1={{coord|27|7|4|N|88|35|1|E}}| label-pos1=right|label1= Algarah| numbered1=R| mark-title1= Algarah (R)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #C42222|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|27|5|33|N|88|28|53|E}}| label-pos2=left|label2=Bhalukhop| numbered2=R| mark-title2= Bhalukhop (R)
|mark-coord3={{coord|27|8|45|N|88|38|12|E}}| label-pos3=right|label3=Bich Kagay| numbered3=R| mark-title3= Bich Kagay (R)
|mark-coord4={{coord|27|5|53|N|88|52|18|E}}| label-pos4=left|label4=Bindu| numbered4=R| mark-title4= Bindu, Kalimpong (R)
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|57|18|N|88|41|42|E}}| label-pos5=left|label5=Gorubathan| numbered5=R| mark-title5= Gorubathan (R)
|mark-coord6={{coord|27|7|55|N|88|34|32|E}}| label-pos6=right|label6=Icche Gaon| numbered6=R| mark-title6= Icche Gaon (R)
|mark-coord7={{coord|27|2|0|N|88|52|23|E}}| label-pos7=right|label7=Jaldhaka| numbered7=R| mark-title7= Jaldhaka (R)
|mark-coord8={{coord|27|2|40|N|88|52|26|E}}| label-pos8=right|label8=Jhalong| numbered8=R| mark-title8= Jhalong (R)
|mark-coord9={{coord|27|0|2|N|88|49|39|E}}| label-pos9=left|label9=Kumai TG| numbered9=R| mark-title9= Kumai Tea Garden (R)
|mark-coord10={{coord|27|5|10|N|88|39|38|E}}| label-pos10=left|label10=Lava| numbered10=R| mark-title10= Lava, West Bengal (R)
|mark-coord11={{coord|27|1|14|N|88|33|54|E}}| label-pos11=left|label11=Loleygaon| numbered11=R| mark-title11= Loleygaon (R)
|mark-coord12={{coord|26|56|59|N|88|42|47|E}}| label-pos12=right|label12=Lower Fagu TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= Lower Fagu Tea Garden (R)
|mark-coord13={{coord|26|52|39|N|88|30|7|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Mongpong| numbered13=R| mark-title13= Mongpong (R)
|mark-coord14={{coord|26|56|35|N|88|26|30|E}}| label-pos14=right|label14= Kalijhora| numbered14=R| mark-title14= Kalijhora (R)
|mark-coord15={{coord|27|9|36|N|88|36|56|E}}| label-pos15=right|label15= Pedong| numbered15=R| mark-title15= Pedong (R)
|mark-coord16={{coord|27|7|17|N|88|34|0|E}}| label-pos16=left|label16= Ramdhura| numbered16=R| mark-title16= Ramdhura (R)
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|59|33|N|88|24|49|E}}| label-pos17=bottom|label17= Rambi Bazar| numbered17=R| mark-title17= Rambi Bazar (R)
|mark-coord18={{coord|27|6|53|N|88|39|40|E}}| label-pos18=right|label18= Rishyap| numbered18=R| mark-title18= Rishyap (R)
|mark-coord19={{coord|27|2|36|N|88|50|6|E}}| label-pos19=left|label19= Rongo| numbered19=R| mark-title19= Rongo, Kalimpong (R)
|mark-coord20={{coord|27|3|18|N|88|39|20|E}}| label-pos20=bottom|label20= Samabiyong TG| numbered20=R| mark-title20= Samabiyong Tea Garden (R)
|mark-coord21={{coord|27|8|44|N|88|34|48|E}}| label-pos21=left|label21= Sillery Gaon| numbered21=R| mark-title21= Sillery Gaon (R)
|mark-coord22={{coord|27|0|48|N|88|47|16|E}}| label-pos22=left|label22= Suntalekhola| numbered22=R| mark-title22= Suntalekhola (R)
|mark-coord23={{coord|27|3|36|N|88|25|48|E}}| label-pos23=top|label23= Teesta Bazaar| numbered23=R| mark-title23= Teesta Bazaar (R)
|mark-coord24={{coord|27|6|35|N|88|49|30|E}}| label-pos24=left|label24= Todey|labela24= Tangta| numbered24=R| mark-title24= Todey Tangta (R)
|mark-coord25={{coord|26|58|37|N|88|35|26|E}}| label-pos25=left|label25= Nimbong| numbered25=R| mark-title25= Nimbong (R)
|mark-coord26={{coord|27|6|0|N|88|41|0|E}}| label-pos26=left|label26= Kolakham| numbered26=R| mark-title26= Kolakham (R)| shape-color26=black| label-size26=13|label-color26=black
|mark-coord27={{coord|27|9|46|N|88|34|50|E}}| label-pos27=left|label27= Mansong| numbered27=R| mark-title27= Mansong (R)
|mark-coord28={{coord|27|3|25|N|88|28|12|E}}| label-pos28=right |label28=Kalimpong| numbered28=M| mark-title28= Kalimpong (M)| shape-color28=#800000
|mark-coord29={{coord|27|4|32|N|88|29|50|E}}| label-pos29=right|label29=Dungra| numbered29=CT| mark-title29= Dungra, Kalimpong (CT) |shape-color29= #A40000
|mark-coord30={{coord|27|5|22|N|88|29|50|E}} | label-pos30=top|label30= Dr. Graham's Homes| numbered30=F| mark-title30= Dr. Graham's Homes (F) |shape-color30=#967117
|mark-coord31={{coord|27|5|30|N|88|45|0|E}}| label-pos31=bottom|label31=Neora Valley |labela31= National Park| numbered31=NP| mark-title31= Neora Valley National Park (NP)| shape-color31=#228B22
|mark-coord32={{coord|27|1|50|N|88|26|10|E}}|label32= Teesta |labela32=River| label-color32 = #77A1CB| label-angle32=75| label-pos32=top| label-size32=10| mark-size32=0| mark-title32=none
|mark-coord33={{coord|26|58|50|N|88|52|23|E}}|label33= Jaldhaka River| label-color33 = #77A1CB| label-angle33=85| label-pos33=top| label-size33=10| mark-size33=0| mark-title33=none
|mark-coord34={{coord|26|55|42|N|88|27|21|E}}| label34= Teesta Low|labela34= Dam IV| label-color34 = #C42222 | label-angle34=0| label-pos34=right| label-size34=10| mark-size34=12| numbered34=D|mark-title34 =Teesta Low Dam - IV Hydropower Plant| shape-color34=#C42222
|mark-coord35={{coord|27|0|6|N|88|26|35|E}}| label35= Teesta Low|labela35= Dam III| label-color35 = #C42222 | label-angle35=0| label-pos35=right| label-size35=10| mark-size35=12| numbered35=D|mark-title35 =Teesta Low Dam - III Hydropower Plant| shape-color35=#C42222
|arc-coordA={{coord|27|7|0|N|88|25|0|E}}|arc-textA= SIKKIM| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=-50| arc-gapA=3.5| arc-radiusA=0.4
|arc-coordB={{coord|27|10|0|N|88|54|0|E}}|arc-textB= BHUTAN| arc-text-colorB=hard grey| arc-angleB=50| arc-gapB=3.5| arc-radiusB=0.4}}
{{clear}}
=Location=
Kolakham is located at {{coord|27|06|05|N|88|40|40|E|type:city_region:IN|display=inline}}.
Kolakham is located in the Neora Valley National Park. It has an average altitude of 1981 meters (6500 ft). It is located 8 km from Lava and 38 km from Kalimpong.
=Area overview=
The map above shows the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision of Kalimpong district. Physiographically, this area forms the Kalimpong Range, with the average elevation varying from {{convert|300 to 3000|m}}. This region is characterized by abruptly rising hills and numerous small streams.{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1901_PART_A_DCHB_DARJILING.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India| work= Page 13: Physiography| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |accessdate = 6 April 2020}} It is a predominantly rural area with 77.67% of the population living in rural areas and only 22.23% living in the urban areas. While Kalimpong is the only municipality, Dungra is the sole census town in the entire area.{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Hanbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling |work = Table 2.4b |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The economy is agro-based and there are six tea gardens in the Gorubathan CD block.{{cite web |url = https://kalimpongdistrict.in/about-kalimpong/ |title = About Kalimpong District |work = Tea Gardens |publisher = District administration |accessdate = 6 April 2020}} In 2011, Kalimpong subdivision had a literacy rate of 81.85%, comparable with the highest levels of literacy in the districts of the state.{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Hanbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling |work = Table 4.5 |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |title = Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011 : West Bengal | work = Statement-4 Ranking of Districts by Literacy Rate in 2001 and 2011 | publisher =Office of the Registrar General and & Census Commissioner, India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |accessdate = 2012-06-20 }} While the first degree college in the subdivision was established at Kalimpong in 1962{{cite web| url = https://www.collegeadmission.in/KalimpongCollege/Kalimpong_College.shtml |title = Kalimpong College |publisher= College Admission | accessdate = 6 April 2020 }} the entire subdivision (and now the entire district), other than the head-quarters, had to wait till as late as 2015 (more than half a century) to have their first degree colleges at Pedong and Gorubathan.{{cite web| url = http://pedongcollege.in/ |title = Government General Degree College at Pedong |publisher= GGDC | accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}{{cite web| url = http://www.gorubathanggdc.co.in/ |title = Government General Degree College, Gorubathan |publisher= GGDC | accessdate = 6 April 2020 }}
Note: The map above presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.